Top News

Canada will continue helping the Philippines strengthen its defenses against emerging cybersecurity threats as the 2028 presidential election approaches. David Hartman, Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines, said Ottawa is committed to assisting Manila in achieving “democratic resiliency” under its Indo-Pacific Strategy. “We’re living in unprecedented times in terms of the threats to our respective democracies. So, now is the time …

Lawyer Melvin Matibag has been named the new director of the National Bureau of Investigation, Malacañang announced Thursday. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. exercised his prerogative in making the appointment. “Unang-una, prerogative po ng Pangulo. Masasabi natin, bakit niya in-appoint? Nandoon po ang tiwala. Nakitaan po niya si Atty. Melvin Matibag na maaaring pagtiwalaan, …

In Philippines politics, timing is never accidental. Seasoned operators understand that early declarations of presidential ambition are rarely about transparency; they are about strategy. A premature announcement can flush out rivals, test alliances, and measure the depth of the political field.  Thus, when Sara Duterte signaled her intentions well ahead of the 2028 race, it was less a spontaneous expression of public service than …

Now that my virgin column was finally delivered by Caesarean section, so to speak, last week through the relentless proddings of our usual suspect, Ms. Nelly L., here I am once again typing on my Underwood portable manual typewriter for my second attempt in my journalistic journey. I have had no formal instruction in this kind of profession except for …

As artificial intelligence becomes more accessible, so too do the tools of deception. Cybercriminals are now harnessing AI to produce fraudulent schemes so polished and persuasive that even digitally savvy consumers can be fooled. In the Philippines, where online transactions and mobile payments are rapidly becoming the norm, this evolution in cybercrime poses a serious threat to consumer trust—particularly in the …

LOVE FOR ALL​By: Virginia Rodriguez When President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.  took office, he made a clear commitment: to uplift the country’s teachers not merely through rhetoric, but through tangible reforms. In a nation where educators have long been praised yet often under-supported, that promise carried significant weight. Today, the results of that commitment are beginning to take shape in …

REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s renewed commitment to educational reform, underscored by the submission of the EDCOM II Final Report, projects both continuity and ambition. The administration’s push to align reforms with expert recommendations and to launch the National Education and Workforce Development Plan (NatPlan 2026–2035) suggests a desire to institutionalize long‑term strategies rather than rely on …

A coalition of legal practitioners has asked the Supreme Court to hold Senate President Vicente Sotto III in indirect contempt, citing his public criticism of the tribunal’s decision voiding the impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte. In their formal submission, the petitioners argued: “Viewing all his interviews as a whole, all told, Senator Sotto, in his public scorn …

Public intellectual and political journalist Adolfo “Ka Ado” Paglinawan has challenged retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio over his position that satellite-based global positioning system (GPS) data are enough to define the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea. Speaking at a forum organized by the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, Paglinawan said Carpio’s long-held view …

Consumers may see higher electricity bills beginning August after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) authorized the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to start collecting roughly ₱63.45 billion as part of its approved revenues. In a statement, the ERC said it granted NGCP an annual revenue requirement of ₱374.98 billion for the fifth regulatory period covering 2023 to 2027—lower …